Despite two court rulings barring the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from holding ward congresses in Rivers State, the party defied the court orders and conducted congresses in various wards across the state on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
On Friday, July 26, 2024, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued a restraining order against the PDP, its National Chairman, Iliya Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
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The order prohibits the party and its representatives from holding ward, local government, and state congresses in Rivers State pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by bona fide party members from various wards in the 23 local government areas of the state.
Justice Charles Wali, who issued the restraining order, directed the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to enforce the order.
The case was adjourned to August 1, 2024, for further hearings.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, directed the PDP in Rivers State to proceed with the conduct of its ward, local government, and state congresses.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Lifu barred the DSS, the Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and seven others from stopping the congresses.
The congresses are scheduled to elect new officers to run the affairs of the PDP at various levels in Rivers State.
Prior to this ruling by the Federal High Court, a Rivers State High Court had also restrained the PDP, its national chairman, national financial secretary, and national organizing secretary from holding the congress scheduled for July 27, 2024, in Rivers State.
This order was issued by Justice Sobere Hambo in an ex parte application brought by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, David Omereji, and 10 others against the defendants.
Justice Wali’s order was the latest to stop the congresses from holding in the state.